About Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated
Introduction
The Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi became incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 on the 19th of December 1988, as Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Kahungunu Incorporated. Six years later the authority, although financially strong, experienced political challenges that its governing body was unable to overcome on its own. After a short period, the organization was reborn on 9 December 1996 under the name Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. A newly elected Board resumed control of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi affairs in May 1997. In 1998 the Board commissioned a team, comprising of Moana Jackson, Mereana Pitman and Mere Ruru assisted by Taanga Lawrence to undertake a constitutional review of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. Their report, "Mā Te Rango Te Waka Ka Rere" is available at most libraries in New Zealand or on request from Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.
Mandate
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is a mandated iwi organisation with the authority to represent the people of Ngāti Kahungunu and is the Governing body for all aspects of Iwi development.
Demographics
Ngāti Kahungunu has the third-largest Iwi population, The 2023 NZ Census and Local Government statistics show that 95,751 people or 9.7 percent of the Māori population, belong to Ngāti Kahungunu. A large percentage of Kahungunu people reside outside the traditional iwi boundaries. Many more, not included in the census count, reside overseas. Geographically, Ngāti Kahungunu has the second largest tribal rohe in the country, from the Wharerata Ranges in the Wairoa District extending to the Remutaka Range in South Wairarapa. The coastal boundaries are Paritū in the North to Tūrakirae in the South.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is a Charitable Organisation
The organisation's registered charitable number is CC45366 and our charitable objectives are as follows:
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Promote or assist the education of members of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.
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Promote the custody and preservation of the beliefs customs and language of Ngāti Kahungunu.
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Promote the social and economic welfare and advancement and vocational training of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi.
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Promote community and personal physical, spiritual and mental health & fitness and raise the living standards of members of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.
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Promote high-quality communications to or for the benefit of members of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.
KAHUNGUNU 2050 Vision
From June to September 2025, NKII engaged with Kahungunu whānau across our taiwhenua and taura here communities. These hui created space for whānau to share their hopes, priorities, and ideas for the future, contributing directly to the development of a 25‑year vision for Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi.
The kōrero gathered through this process has been carefully collated into KAHUNGUNU2050 – the Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi 25‑Year Vision, a roadmap shaped by the voices and aspirations of our people. Click here to view KAHUNGUNU2050
